Month: September 2016

The other day, I walked into a bar, on a last minute impulse decision, after a particularly long and exhausting day of work. The only thing that I can recall was how much seemed to have gone wrong for me during the day and the week leading up to it–my car’s headlights decided to magically break as soon as I used a turn signal (?), planning periods were spent since no onpeople e needed a break hour anyway, and I wasn’t getting out as often as I needed to be. So, having these things, as well as many others, swarming in my mind, I decided to give in and get a drink for a few minutes and then take off so that I could stay on my schedule. I ended up staying for well over an hour, spending time talking to other bar patrons and employees about daily struggles, humorous experiences, tales from the world of teaching or motherhood, and how we get by in the day to day living cycle. This was notable for me, not just because I was able to relay my own stories to another person or group of people, but because I had finally allowed myself to be in a state of ease not usually experienced in the life that I have currently paved for myself.

More or less, this idea is something that we can all relate to on some level. We put in so much time and effort into establishing an identity and making a name for ourselves within the working world that we lose track of the things that really define us, and try to make our hobbies and lives (outside of the regular workplace) work around what we do to sustain ourselves–I am guilty as charged, as I have found myself allowing work to become my life rather than a piece to a bigger whole. Many of us may find that we spend more time working at home (outside of the regular workplace) than we do doing the things we love or spending time with the people that we love. Yes, working and having a job is a very important thing for an individual to possess, with reasons mentioned in the above writing. However, with a desire and a growing demand to have everything be above and beyond what is expected, we often lose ourselves looking for that same perfection in the way we work–so much so, that it bleeds over into our personal lives, blurring the lines between one part of ourselves and another, delivering more stress-filled anxiety into a life that loses its spontaneity and adapts more to a one-track beginning and end way of living.

Notably, we also find ourselves losing some form of human connection on an interpersonal level. The same absorption into work and everything of the like drives us to treat everyone we know, colleagues or loved ones, in the same fashion. They all become recurring faces in our daily routine. If they aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, or if they happen to be absent, a tight equilibrium is disrupted and, subsequently, so is the sense of calm that we establish in this case.

This is where the importance of stepping back to take a look at ourselves or to take time to ourselves comes into play. Too often, we are called to devote every fiber of ourselves to the constant demand and fast-pace of the workplace that we forget to look at ourselves and meditate upon where our own well-being stands amidst the grander scheme of things. If we are going to be a part of something that is ultimately bigger than ourselves work wise, why not take a moment to care for ourselves so that we can be more productive? And what about for the people in our lives? How are going to be able to communicate with them in a way that doesn’t come off as technical or un-engaging?

Every one of us is human, and we deserve to treat ourselves as such. Do not cut off the things that help you sustain yourself, but do not let these same things encompass your whole existence. Go to a bar and have a random conversation. Take a window shopping trip with a friend. Set aside thirty minutes or so for the sake of helping someone with chores or homework. Set aside thirty minutes for a call to a loved one or friend. Go jogging. Take a few minutes to just be by yourself and breathe. Write a blog entry. Have that balance, and you’ll be fine.

“She broke up with the perfect image of a human being that she, for so long, had relied upon as a form of safety and comfort for her well being, and whom would be formed of the greatest aspects of all that she met. She broke up with the mental figment that had barricaded her from ever reaching out to someone of substance, as it had always seemed akin to the fairy tale image so ingrained in her perception of reality. She let go of her fear, and set herself and those who loved her free at last.”

Racism; misogyny; political lies; fear-mongering; and mudslinging have been abundant in this election cycle for sure–especially from the candidates of the two biggest political parties, Donald Trump (Republican) and Hillary Clinton (Democrat), in the United States. All of this is done in order to gain the voices of multitudes to ensure a victory as leader of the proverbial free world. Regardless of the fact that these faces are doing more harm than good, people of all backgrounds and statuses are rallying behind their candidate of choice based upon things presented solely at face value, and upon the belief that the president stands above any and all when it comes to power and lawmaking in the United States.

It is very easy for some to accept this as an absolute truth, but it should not take away from the other politicians running for offices within the States themselves and from within the larger federal government. Without a focus on the bigger picture of the election cycle, we have almost turned our backs upon the very things that are taking place in our own backyard in favor of the commotion on the streets. Locally, there are or could be measures that could affect the use of natural resources in one’s area. Or school board officials could be making a decision as to whether or not to detach themselves from Common Core. Many people, still, could be taking a vote on whether or not to mark a strip of highway as a toll road or to change the toll tax on a preexisting one. In any case, we would not be aware of whatever would be changing around us, simply because we have become preoccupied with only the prettiest piece of the puzzle.

Most importantly to add, however, is the fact that there are hundreds of seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate combined–both of which make up the bicameral House of Congress–up for a vote this year. This is where all of the laws and legislation for the United States is drafted and reviewed before being taken to the president for an approval or veto. This is where people from all over the nation send their concerns to their representatives or senators, in the hope that their voices may be heard and that a law in their favor may be passed. Many of the politicians whose seats are up for reelection are running again, and this has several citizens uneasy for several reasons. Not only have a bulk of these men and women been serving for a good chunk of their lives, but, seemingly, there seems to not be enough working getting done due to excessive vacations and/or a lack of desire to do the work expected of them. The election for these seats may go about by way of some of these scenarios, however: people will elect a new person out of spite of the current placeholder, vote for a new person because they want to “change things up”; or vote for the incumbent out of a sense of familiarity and a desire to keep things as they are. In any circumstance, the lack of research for a candidate that is viable and necessary for the job , incumbent or not, is apparent. Separately, it is worth noting that not every person in any one party is going to be for or against their party’s presidential candidate–do they have the same stances or platforms as said candidate. Or how do they differ? Or what does it mean for you, taking into account your beliefs?

Voting for the next president of the United States is a very important decision. However, that should not prevent anyone from ignoring the events happening around them, or other individuals whose actions and work may, ultimately, affect their way of life. In finishing, I ask any and all who read this to do as much research as they can about local measures that could affect how they live their day to day lives, as well as the men and women who will be running for office (especially those on Capitol Hill) and doing work that will, in turn, affect the general public. This way, come November, one will approach the voting booth with a better understanding of everything the ballot entails, rather than just relying solely on one vote out of many others.

Hello to everyone reading this! I had written an introduction earlier, but, since I am very, very new to the world of online blogging, I managed to lose all of that and the pretty awesome design that I had had for my page.

Anyway, as the page title suggests, I am an aspiring writer who likes to write about a variety of different topics and ideas, from the ones affecting a wide array of groups and populations (such as sociopolitical movements and education concerns) to those that happen on a more interpersonal or intrapersonal level (such as communication between a friend/partner or matters involving philosophy and spirituality). I am always more than happy to discuss or debate these things and many others with the readers, so long as there isn’t any mudslinging going on from either side. I am also open to constructive critiques!

I am also a martial arts enthusiast; a lover of festivals, ranging from renaissance to music to seasonal carnivals; and a person who is thirsty for adventure and traveling, both domestically and abroad. To see the rest of the world is a dream I intend to make happen.

Having said this, I am not entirely sure what I am doing at the moment, but I am sure I will grow into it. I am eager to see where this goes!